Warp stop motion



0. v. PAYNE WARP STOP MOTION Filed Dec. 26, 1941 Feb. 29, 1944.

2 She ets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR O SCAR \IC'P RYME'.

ATTORNEY Feb. 29, 1944. o. v. PAYNE WARP STOP MOTION Filed Dec. 26, 19412 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE-- 5, 7 1 m m n a I 5 u W 4, n n n m A 2 a W 5 mu mI m M .2 6 l r0 m" n q 7 5% u 3 I mmmrw a? I m M M IP 4 4 I a m "M n m &ii 2 7 3 A. J 3 rL 7 7 I. L a n m 1 q u n n: 8, 1 h .I I. I. III I 5FIE-j FIG. 4

INVENTOR Oscaa \l. PAYNE.

QAM/A ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce l WARPSTOP MOTION 7 Oscar V. Payne, Leicester, Mass., assignor to Crompton &Knowles Loom Works, Worcester,

Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 26, 1941,Serial No. 424,492

12 Claims. (o1; 139-358) I v This invention relates to improvements inwarp stop motions for looms and it is the general object of theinvention to provide means by which parts of the mechanism can be madereadily adjustable for changing conditions of weaving.

Warp stop mechanisms customarily employ drop wires which are guided andheld apart in banks by separator bars. The latter determine theelevation of the warp threads and therefore the height of the drop wireswith respect to the detector bars. Heretofore difficulty has beenexperienced in adjusting the separator bar s relatively to the detectorbars, and any given warpstop mechanism required a drop wire designedspecifically for it. It is an important object-army present invention toprovide means which afford a delicate adjustment for the verticalposition of the separator bars with respect to the detector bars so thatthe best operating conditions for any given drop wire can be attained,and also to permit the use of various types of drop wires. 1

Where several banks of drop wires are used it y is customary to employrelatively high front and back separator bars and low intermediate bars.Where the warp is under considerable tension the low intermediate barsdo not interfere with the operation of the drop wires, but when the warpis slack, or when certain decorative warp threads become slack, thecorresponding drop wires'between the intermediate bars sag and arelikely to give a false indication. In order to overcome :this difficultyit has been necessary heretofore to remove the low intermediate bars andreplace them with high bars of the same size as the front and back bars.It is a further object of my present invention so to shape theintermediate bars that their upper surfaces can be either in low or highposition as determined by requirements of the fabric being woven. Thisresult I attain by making the intermediate bars invertible and thuspermit one set of bars to perform the function heretofore attainableonly by the use of two sets of intermediate bars. 1 a 7 Where the warpstop mechanism is of the electrical type it is necessary to provide someconnection between the insulated electrodes of the contact bars and theloom controlling circuit. Such connections have heretofore been providedbut have always required some form ofmanipulation with the aid of toolsat the loom. It is a further object of my present invention to provide aquickly attachable member made of elastic material such as rubber andhaving a contact eleslipped. over the end of a contact bar to cause thecontact element to engage the insulated electrode of thebar.

With these and other objects in View which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth. a In theaccompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my inventionis set forth, Fig. 1 is a vertical section through awarpstop' mechanismmade according to my present invention taken longitudinally of the warpthreads-and looking toward one of the loomsides, I

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. l,l

Fig. 3 is a detailed verticalsection on line .-l3 of Fig. 2,

Fig.4 is a vertical section on line 4-4. of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is averticalsection on line 5--5 of Fig. '1 showing the intermediate bars in lowposition,

Fig. 6 is a view similar. toa portion .ofJFig. 5 but with theintermediate bars shown inverted and in high position, Fig. 7 is a groupdiagrammatic view showing the relation of the adjacent ends of the endand intermediate separator bars, and I Fig. 8 is a perspective viewofone of the supporting units. if a The structure shown in the drawings,-except the contact members for the contact bars, is duplicated on eachside of the loom. A description will be given of the mechanism atone-side only with the understanding that it appliesto both ends of theloom. Referring to-Figs. l and 2, the loom frame It supports a bearingll having a hub 12 which receives a-vertical gudgeon 53 of a support M.A horizontal threadedbar I5 is held in longitudinally adjusted positionon the support I4 by means of set screws I6 and extends rearwardlyparallel-to the warp threads W. I I

Strung along the bar 15 is a series of separate holding units asindicated in Fig. 1. Front and back units 20 and 2| are engaged by locknuts 22 and 23, respectively, and other units 25 similar to each otherare located between the front and back units. As shown particularly inFig. 1 unit 20 has a head 26 and a lateral slot 21 to receive the frontseparator or warpsupp orting bar 28. The rear unit 2| is formed withouta slot corresponding to slot 21 but has a vertical front wall 30which-extends along the rear separator bar 3|. Bars 28 and-3| arerelatively high and' the warpextends along their upper. edges.

Each of the intermediate units 25 hasa head 33 and a slot 34 at the-rearface-thereof similar to slot 21 and has a front wall 35 for engagementwith the separator bars 40 located in the slots 34. The unit 25immediately to the left of the front unit 20 as seen in Fig. 1 holds thefront bar 28 in position in slot 21 and the slot 34 in the rear face ofthe rearmost unit 25 cooperates with the previously described wall 30 tohold the rear separator bar 3| in position. The intermediate separatorbars 40 are located in their respective slots 34 and held in position bythe rear walls 35 behind them formed on the units 25.

These separator bars are spaced as indicated in Fig. 1 to receive dropwires one of which is indicated at D in ,Fig. 1. Each drop wire has aclosed slot 4| the upper end of which is wedge shaped as at 42 and isfurther provided with an eye 43 at the upper end of an open slot 44 inthe bottom of the wire. A warp thread passes through each eye 43 andcontact bars 45 pass through the slots 4|. Each contact bar is providedwith a body 46 in electrical contact with the heads of the various unitsas indicated in Fig. l and an insulated electrode 41 for each bar 46 isout of electrical contact with the latter but positioned for engagementwith the upper wedge shaped part of the drop wire when the latter is inlow or stopping position. The heads 26 and 33 hold the contact bars inposition above and intermediate the separator bars.

Except as indicated hereinafter the mechanism thus far described may beof the same general form as that set forth in my prior Patent No.1,852,024.

In carrying my present invention into effect I provide means for raisingall of the separator bars simultaneously so that their upper surfacesmay be varied to raise or lower the warp threads. In carrying thisfeature of my invention into eifect I provide the front and back units20 and 2| with cylindrical bores 50 and respectively, in each of whichis located a cylinder or barrel 52. The barrels are connected by alongitudinally extending rod 53 which extends through an opening 55formed in the lower part of each intermediate unit 25. The axis of therod is eccentric with respect to the axes of the barrels and its rearend is bent laterally as at 51 to form a handle extending behind therear unit 2| to be accessible to the operator. A set screw 58 in thelower part of unit 2| is provided to hold the barrels in their angularlyadjusted position. It is to be understood that the rod 53 is secured toeach of the barrels and with the latter forms a unit which is rotated onthe front and back units 20 and 2| to vary the elevation of the rod withrespect to the contact bars 45.

The front and back separator bars 28 and 3| have their ends reduced asat 60 to project through their corresponding slots and rest on the rod53. In a similar manner each intermediate separator bar 40 has its endreduced as at 6| to project through the associated slot and rests on therod 53.

As shown in Fig. 2 the rod 53 is in its lowest position so that theseparator bars are at their maximum distance below the contact bars 45.After the mechanism has been attached to its supports as alreadydescribed by securement of the gudgeon |3 in the hub |2 by set screw H,the nuts 22 and 23 will be loosened and the handle 51 manipulated torock the barrels in their bearings, thereby raising the rod 53 until thedesired nicety of adjustment between the contact bars and the separatorbars is attained, after which set screw 58 and the lock nuts .22 and 23are tightened. In this way I am able to vary the elevation of theseparator bars so that they may have proper relation with respect to thecontact bars.

Another feature of my invention relates to the invertibility of theintermediate bars 40 so that their vertical position with respect to thefront and back bars 28 and 3| can be altered. In carrying this featureof my invention into effect I form the reduced extended ends 6|) of thefront and back separator bars as indicated in Fig. 5, and at A, Fig. 7,to be central with respect to the top and bottom edges of the bars. Bythis construction the front and back bars can be placed in positionwithout reference to which of their warp supporting edges is up. Thereduced portion 6| of each intermediate bar 43, however, is offset fromone edge as indicated in Fig. 6, and at B and C, Fig. 7. When bars 40are in the low positions shown in Fig. 1 their extensions are relativelyhigh, as indicated at B, Fig. 7, the edge 65 resting on rod 53 beingbetween the upper and lower edges 55 and 61, respectively, and belowedge 66 which is continuous along the reduced end 6|.

When a tight warp is being woven and it is desired to offer as littlefrictional resistance to the threads as possible on the part of theseparator bars, the intermediate bars will be in the low position shownin Fig. l and at A, Fig. '7 with their edges 66 below the tops of bars28 and 3|. When slack warp is being woven, however, the intermediatebars will be inverted from the position of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 6 andthe extended edges 66 will rest on the rod 53 as shown at C, Fig. 7. Inthis latter position the tops of all the separator bars are insubstantially the same horizontal plane and will contact and support thewarp threads so that even though the latter are slack the drop wireswill be held in proper position above the insulating electrodes 41. Itwill be obvious that whether the intermediate bars are in the positionshown in Fig. 5 or Fig. 6 they will be moved with the front and backbars when adjustment is made by the eccentric mounting of rod 53 alreadydescribed.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the heads of thevarious units and the supporting bolt l5 cooperate to align the bores 5|through which the rod 53 extends. Considering the intermediate units 25,for instance, each is formed with a horizontal surface on which reststhe overhanging part 8| of the head 33 so that the vertical position ofadjacent units is determined by the engagement of the head of one unitwith the surface 80 of an adjacent unit. A bore 83 of each unit receivesthe supporting member l5 and serves to align the units horizontally andthe features just described cooperate to align the bores 5| throughwhich the rod 53 passes. These bores 5| are sufficiently large to permitthe rod 53 to swing through the arc suggested for instance in Fig. 2.

That part of my invention thus far described is equally applicable tomechanical or electrical warp stop motions and although I have shown anelectrical contact bar to cooperate with a fallen drop wire I do notwish necessarily thus to be limited. When the electrical form of bar isused it is desirable to provide means to connect it to the external loomcontrolling circuit and this I may accomplish by the form of contactmember shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4:. As shown in Fig. 2 the contact barsextend to the left of the organized supporting unit for the separatorbars and the insulated electrodes 41 project upwardly for engagementwith'a. typerof contact now to" strip is pointed downwardly asindicated, at 90 to have contact with the insulated electrode 41, andthe strip is connected as at 9| to the wire 11. The right end of cavity78, as, seen in Fig. 4, is further provided with apocket 82 to receivethe adjacent end of the contact strip 19. A large recess 93 receives theadjacent end of contact bar 45 and the contact member 1'5 is held inplace by its own resilience.

In assembling the contact head the wire 11 will first be passed throughthe recess 93 into cavity 18 and then down through the bore 16, carryingwith it at its trailing end the strip 19 the left end of which will beextended into the left end of pocket 18. Because of the elasticity ofthe material of which thehead is made, the upper right corner thereofwill then be bent upwardly and twisted on itself to permit pocket 82 toreceive the right hand end of the strip 19. When released the headresumes its normal position indicated in Fig. 4 to hold the contactstrip in position and the bar 45 is then slipped endwise into the recess93 to cause engagement between the insulated electrode 41 and thedown-turned point 98 of the contact strip 19.

The bars 45 are grounded by their engagement with the units supported onthe threaded bar l5, and the contact electrodes 41 are connected towires 11, only one of which is shown in the drawings, to an externalloom controlling circuit. My prior patents, Nos. 1,852,024; 1,873,147and 1,873,465 may be referred to for an understandin of how the loom maybe stopped when wire 11 is connected to the body 46 of the contact barby a fallen drop wire.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple means forvarying the position of the separator bars including the eccentricallymounted rod 53 which can be turned by means of handle 51 to effect adelicate adjustment of the separator bars with respect to the contactbars. It will also be seen that the intermediate bars are made withreduced extended ends so shaped that in one position the bars are lowand out of contact with the warp threads and when in inverted positionare relatively high to support slack warps. Furthermore, it will be seenthat I have provided a simple form of contact head made of soft elasticmaterial such as rubber which can be readily applied to the ends of thecontact bars 45 without the use of tools. Itwill also be seen thatadjacent units have engaging parts which cooperate with the supportingbolt l to align the bores 5| through which the lifter rod 53 extends.The invertible intermediate bars shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 5,and the contact members for the ends of the contact bars shown in Figs.3 and 4 are not claimed herein but are made the subject matter ofdivisional applications, Serial Nos. 443,886 and 443,887, respectively,both filed on May 21, 1942.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes andmodifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention and I'do not wishto-be limited to thedetails herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

.1. In a warp stop mechanism having a" structure supporting a detectorbar and atsepa rator bar below the detector bar to determine the levelof the warp which supports a' drop wire'forthe detector bar, means onthe fixed structure to guide the separator bar for vertical motion,

and a rotary element in the fixed structure engaging the separator barand rotatable to'raise' and lower the separator bar to vary thevdistance between said bars.

2. In a warp stop mechanism structure supporting a detector bar and aseparator bar below the detector bar to determine the level of the warpwhich supports a drop wire for the detector bar, means'on said fixedstructure providing vertical guides for the separator bar, and arotatable element eccentrically mounted on the fixed structure andsupporting'the separator bar and rotatable to raise and lower theseparator bar to vary the distance between said bars. y

3. In a warp stopmechanism having a fixed structure supporting adetector bar and a separator bar below the detector bar to determine thelevel of the warp which supports a drop wire for the detector bar, meanson said fixed support providing vertical guides for the separator bar, arod extending under and having supporting relation with respect to theseparator bar, and an eccentric mounting for said rod carried by thefixed structure, angularzmotion of the eccentric causing said rod toraise and lower the separator bar 49 for the detector bar, means on saidfixed support providing a vertical guide for one of said bars, and arotatable support for said one bar having a portion engaging said bar ata point eccentric with respect to the axis of the support, rotation ofsaid support causing said portion to move the bar thereon vertically tovary the distance between said bars.

5. In a warp stop mechanism having a fixed structure supporting adetector bar and a sepa rator bar below the detector bar to determinethe level of the warp which supports a drop wire for the detector bar,means on said fixed structure to provide vertical guides for one of saidbars, and means mounted on said fixed structure and in engagement withsaid one bar and movable relatively to the fixed support to Vary thevertical distance between said bars.

6. In a warp stop mechanism to cooperate with drop wires of differentheights and having a fixed structure supporting a detector bar and aseparator bar below the detector bar to determine the level of the warpwhich supports a drop wire for the detector bar, a support for one ofsaid bars mounted on and movable with respect to a fixed structure andcapable of varying the elevation of said one bar by movement withrespect to said fixed structure to vary the vertical distance betweensaid bars.

7. In a warp stop mechanism to cooperate with drop wires of varyingheights, a fixed structure, a detector bar mounted on the structure tocooperate with a drop wire, a separator bar to determine the elevationof the warp which supports the drop wire, and means mounted on and.movable with respect to the fixed structure to having a fixed vary thevertical position of one of said bars to alter the vertical distancebetween said bars and adapt them for cooperation with drop wires ofdifferent heights.

8. A bar supporting unit for a warp stop mechanism having an elongatedsupport and a separator bar, said unit comprising a body with: anabutting surface and a head extending upwardly from said surface andprojecting horizontally beyond the body to engage and be positioned bythe abutting surface of an adjoining similar unit, said body havingextending therethrough a bore to receive the elongated support andhaving a second bore parallel to and below the first bore to receive asupporting member for the sepa= rator bar.

9.- A bar supporting unit for a warp stop mechanism having an elongatedsupport and a separator bar, said unit comprising a body withan abuttingsurface and ahead extending upwardly from said surface and projectinghorizontally beyond the body to engage and be positioned by the abuttingsurface of an adjoining similar unit, said body having extendingtherethrough a bore to'receive the elongated support having a secondbore parallel to and below the first bore to receive a supporting memberfor the separator bar, said body having a guide surface for theseparator bar below said head and through which the second named boreextends.

10. A bar supporting unit for a Warp stop mechanism having an elongatedsupport and a separator bar said unit comprising a body having a flathorizontal surface and a head pro jecting upwardly from said surface andbeyond the body to engage a similar surface on an adjacent unit by whichthe head and body is positioned vertically, said body having a boreetc-'- tending therethrough to receive the elongated support to causesaid unit to be positioned horizontally by the support with respect toan ad jacent unit, and said body having a second bore parallel to thefirst named bore torec'eive a sup porting member for the separator bar.

11. In a warp stop mechanism having an elo'ngated support and separatorbars extending transversely of the support, a plurality of sepa'-' ratorbar supporting units having aligning bores therethrough to receive thesupport, each unit having a head to extend over and engage a surface ofan adjacent unit, each unit having a second bore therethrough, theheads' and surfaces in engagement therewith" cooperating with thesupport to hold the second named bores in alignment, and a memberextending through said

